In an unusual escalation of internal conflicts within the Election Commission of India (ECI), two Election Commissioners—Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi—wrote separate letters to Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan on July 29, 2026. The communications objected to the conduct of Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Maneesh Garg regarding an order he issued revising work allocations among senior officials without prior commission approval.
Key Highlights of the Incident
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Unilateral Work Allocation: On July 28, 2026, Maneesh Garg was given temporary charge of the Administration Division during the leave of Deputy Election Commissioner Bhanu Prakash Yeturu. Within hours, Garg issued an order revising the distribution of work among Senior Deputy Election Commissioners, Deputy Election Commissioners, and Director Generals.
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Bypassing the Commission: Both Commissioners stated that the reallocations were executed without prior discussion, information, or approval from the Commission or the affected officers.
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Violation of Protocols: Sandhu noted that Garg allocated work to himself as well as to officers senior or equivalent to him, violating explicit oral and written instructions. He alleged that this action breached Sections 18(1) and 18(2) of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.
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Access to Files Denied: In his letter, Dr. Joshi revealed that when he requested the relevant file from the Administration Division to review the matter, his request was denied.
Cabinet Secretariat’s Response
The complaint letters were obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Commodore Lokesh K. Batra (Retd.) on September 24, 2026.
An internal file note from the Cabinet Secretariat highlighted the following points:
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Individual vs. Formal Communication: The Secretariat noted that because the letters were sent by the Commissioners in their individual capacities—rather than as a unified, formal communication from the ECI as a body—direct executive intervention could be seen as improper interference in an independent constitutional body.
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Action Taken: Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan formally acknowledged both letters on August 5, 2026. Copies were forwarded to:
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The Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)
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The Establishment Officer
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The Principal Private Secretary to the Chief Election Commissioner
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Future Decisions: The notes were placed on record for future administrative decisions regarding Garg, an IAS officer (HP: 1996 cadre) whose appointment falls under the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
Broader Context
This administrative dispute follows earlier reports highlighting internal friction within the ECI. On September 23, The Indian Express reported that the two Election Commissioners had formally recorded objections 14 times over 10 months regarding voter list additions and deletions, and had previously raised concerns with the Cabinet Secretary regarding the integrity of the electoral database.
Current Status: The RTI documents confirm that the Commissioners’ complaints were officially received, processed, and shared with relevant authorities. However, the records do not indicate whether any formal inquiry or further disciplinary action against the officer has taken place.
